US talk show host David Letterman is fighting a restraining order taken out by a woman who says the presenter sent her code words via television.

Colleen Nestler took out the order saying that Letterman forced her to go bankrupt and caused her mental cruelty and sleep deprivation for 11 years.

Mr Letterman, who records his show in New York, cannot go within three yards of Ms Nestler, of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

His solicitor said the claims were "absurd and frivolous".

Quash

Lawyers for Mr Letterman, in a motion filed on Tuesday at Manhattan District Court, say the order is without merit and asked state District Judge Daniel Sanchez to quash it.

The motion to quash the order says the Santa Fe District Court lacks jurisdiction over the TV host, that Ms Nestler never served him with restraining order papers, and that she did not meet other procedural requirements.

Ms Nestler's application for a restraining order was accompanied by a six-page typed letter in which she said Mr Letterman used code words, gestures and "eye expressions" to convey his desires for her.

She wrote that she began sending Letterman "thoughts of love" after his Late Show began in 1993, and that he responded in code words and gestures, asking her to come east to New York to be trained as his co-host.